Photo: As Port St. Lucie is located on the coast of southern Florida, an area often in the path of hurricanes and severe weather, a portion of the school will also serve as an Enhanced Hurricane Protection Area, keeping students and school employees safe in the event of extreme weather. | Photo Credit: Spiezle Architectural Group Inc.
The new 217,500-square-foot Western Grove K-8 prototype campus for Port St. Lucie, Fla., Public Schools is a massive undertaking. Construction is expected to span approximately 18 months, ending in August 2026, and will include a plethora of new facilities: two-story academic buildings, a two-story administration building, several playgrounds, a multipurpose field a gymnasium, athletic courts, a chiller plant with thermal storage and a particularly innovative auditoria.
The auditoria is a foundational and multi-functional part of the overall project. The expansive space will double as a cafeteria and auditorium, containing dining facilities, a kitchen, custodial areas, a stage, a band classroom, a vocal classroom and even an art classroom. As the campus is located on the coast of southern Florida, an area often in the path of hurricanes and severe weather, it will also serve as an Enhanced Hurricane Protection Area (EHPA), keeping students and school employees safe in the event of extreme weather…